The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-10
PERSONAL.

Col Noah T. Smith, who piioted Gen. SCOTS
army into the City Of Mexico Is lying dangerously
i'll at his home in Laconia, n. II. Col Smith is a
cousin of Mai Gen. b. F. Kelley, of West Virginia,
now of the Pension Bureau.
Gen. B. NJ Prentiss lectured at Dodge City,
Kan, the Goth Of January for the benefit of the
Post there. which realized a considerable sum of
money for the charity fund.
Sergt G.. II. Bates who achieved some reputa-
ton by carrying the United States flag through the
South and afterward through England, is now one
of the active members of Buffalo Bills Great Wild
West Show, and is located in New York until the
show leaves for England
The battalion OF newsboys at Providence r. l.,
has received a new recruit-a recruit who Is old
enough to be grandfather to most of the happy,
laughing, bustling and busy little tzadesmen who
cry the news on the citys streets. And yet the
boys treat him kindly; they never play tricks upon
him, nor do they grumbe at the extra competition
in their business. Indeed, they seem disposed to
help him along and if he late in getting out Of
the Office there is not of them that would not
throw oil his coat and help the elderly newsboy to
fold his papers. There is a sort of sympathy that
in this at least makes the boys turn from fun to
helpfulness and from mischief to little acts of kind
ness. The reason is simple but sgnificant-the
| man Is n veteran of the war and the little fellows
| take compassion his infrmities, They have
heard that he fought at Hilton Head, at Fort Wag-
ner, and at Petersburg, and down in Florida at
Oustee, and their for the and for his
/ past Is ut least evidence of their patriotism.
Every afternoon this middle aged newsboy hurries
| from one newspaper Office to the other and then
with his bundle starts out on his rounds along
Canal and Charles streets to Randall Square, and
then away over toward the old Catholic Cemetery.
| 1t Is long tramp. but neither storm nor biting
winds have kept him from serving his customers
since he began. His name Is Isaac Croker, and on
Aug :. 1861, he enlisted n private in Co. Il, 10th
Mass He served until 1865, when he was discharged
from the hospital at Hampton, Va broken in health
| and practically helpless. He had suffered from
fever. dysentery and sunstroke. He was deaf and
incapable of manual labor of any kind. -Four years
| ago he applied for pension. He has worked dill
gently since to it. but many of the witnesses
| who could have supported his claim dead, and
| so he met almost insurmountable difficulties. At
last afew days ago he was notified that he had been
granted pension, and hereafter he will receive S2i
| q year to help him support wife and family. He
| Is quite overcome with the munihcence of the Ma
tional Government, but as SCI year would hardly
furnish comfortable living for a family of five
persons he has become n newsboy, and hopes nj
least to be able to provide bread for theose depend
ent upon him.
Near Bay City, Mich. lives like n hermit Henry
| malone, veteran SOldier, aged 90. Ills i1cs l.
covered with gray beard and his hair is nearly
white. He stands erect and is over six feet in
hight. lie is poorly clad but complains Of nothing
His home Is a shanty about 10 feet long and sis
feet wide 1t is made of boards. the sides being o
single thickness, and the roof is made of boards
one overlapping the other to keep out the rain anC
snow. The interior Is dark, smoky and dingy
There IL no window, and but one door. There L
floor, no bed, table, chairs or dishes The only
cooking utensils are two tomato cans. An old drum
is utilized for stove. In one end of the hut is
pile OF boughs. leaves and dried grass, and upoI
this the old man sleeps with his dogs, of which h
has three. In another portion of his home is pill
Of wood, which he constantly replenishes. He ha
no blankets or pillows bedding of any kind
What he does or lives upon Is n mystery, excep
that he hunts little and in gathers berries
lie was soldier in the war Of the rebellion. III
entered at the start, and served until discharged n
the close. He was one of the party who captures
JEFF Davis. He was thrown from a horse and per
manently injured. Though entitled to pension
and bounty, he refuses to apply for them, saying
he can get along without them. He appears to b.
pretty well posted, and there is no indication o
insanity in his conversation. He is shy of strangers
preferring to remain unmolested by them. III
does not want anyone to know him and is reticen
about making acquaintanees.
This week Col. John A. Joyce has been over q
Baltimore " making trouble for the boys of Wi
son Post. with his world renowned lecture.